Five plasma jet ignitor designs were tested on a Waukesha ASTM-CFR engine fueled with natural gas. The pollutant emissions, fuel and air flow rates and dynamic cylinder pressure were measured for the full range of Air/Fuel ratios. From these measurements the indicated power and specific fuel consumption were calculated. The energy for the ignitors was provided by a variable high energy ignition system, and each ignitor was supplied with 0.00, 0.08, 0.32, 0.72 and 1.28 Joules of energy in addition to that provided by the standard ignition coil. To differentiate between the benefits gained by use of the plasma jet ignitors and those due to the higher ignition energies, an ordinary spark plug was also tested with added ignition energies. The goal of the experiment was to find an ignitor that could be used to extend the lean operating limit of a natural gas fueled engine, so that the emission of NO_x, and other pollutants could be reduced. The following table shows the optimum pollutant emission reductions achieved by the use of the most effective plasma jet ignitor and the high energy spark plug compared with the emissions from the engine when operated with the standard equipment spark plug near stoichiometric. The plasma jet ignitor for which the results are displayed in this table consisted of an 83 mm³ cavity and a 118 mm³ ejector, both of which were insulated with ceramic cylinders. / Master of Science

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the design or modification of internal combustion (IC) engine components, the South African Automotive industry has always relied on either design by mother companies or quasi-empirical design methods. These methods have restricted the performance and reliability of local designs. A personal computer based model of four stroke engine operation has been developed as a rapid and cost-effective aid to users who wish to determine the performance of an engine with reasonable accuracy before dynamometer testing is possible. This model consists of a thermodynamic model of combustion and gas exchange linked to a manifold flow model. Accompanying this is a simulation of valve flow and a cam dynamic model, enabling full assessment of the optimum cam profiles and valve angles for various automotive engine configurations. The accuracy of these models has been verified by comparison with a set of engine dynamometer tests. The models have also been used with great success in local and international development projects in conjunction with local automotive manufacturers. In particular, two engine upgrade projects have been successfully completed, in which the program was used to aid the design of inlet manifolds, the selection of camshafts, and the selection of compression ratios. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die ontwerp of modifikasie van binnebrandenjin-komponente het die Suid-Afrikaanse Motorbedryf gewoonlik staatgemaak op óf die ontwerpe van die moedermaatskappy óf is van quasi-empiriese ontwerp metodes gebruik gemaak. Hierdie metodes het die werkverrigting en uithouvermoë van plaaslike ontwerpe beperk. 'n Rekenaar model wat die werking van 'n vierslagenjin moduleer, is ontwikkel as 'n vinnige en koste effektiewe hulpmiddel vir ontwerpers om 'n redelike akkurate voorspelling van enjin werkverrigting te verkry, voordat dynamomotor toetswerk moontlik is. Die model bestaan uit 'n termodinamise model vir ontbranding en die gas uitruilproses, gekoppel aan 'n spruitstuk vloeimodel. Die model word saam met 'n simulasie van klepvloei en 'n nok dinamiese model gebruik, wat toelaat dat 'n goeie raming van die optimum nokprofiele en klephoeke gemaak kan word vir verskeie automobielenjin konfigurasies. Die akuraatheid van hierdie modelle is bevestig deur die vergelyking van simulasie resultate met 'n omvangreike stel enjin dynamomotor toetse. Die modelle is ook met groot sukses in verskeie plaaslike en internasionale ontwikkelingsprojekte, in samewerking met die plaaslike motorbedryf, gebruik. In besonder is twee enjinontwikkelingsprojekte suksesvol voltooi, waarin die simulasie program gebruik is om die ontwerp van die inlaat spruitstuk, die keuse van nokasse en die keuse van drukverhouding te vergemaklik.

Thesis. 1979. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / Tetsuro Oguchi. / M.S.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the design or modification of internal combustion (IC) engine components, the South African Automotive industry has always relied on either design by mother companies or quasi-empirical design methods. These methods have restricted the performance and reliability of local designs. A personal computer based model of four stroke engine operation has been developed as a rapid and cost-effective aid to users who wish to determine the performance of an engine with reasonable accuracy before dynamometer testing is possible. This model consists of a thermodynamic model of combustion and gas exchange linked to a manifold flow model. Accompanying this is a simulation of valve flow and a cam dynamic model, enabling full assessment of the optimum cam profiles and valve angles for various automotive engine configurations. The accuracy of these models has been verified by comparison with a set of engine dynamometer tests. The models have also been used with great success in local and international development projects in conjunction with local automotive manufacturers. In particular, two engine upgrade projects have been successfully completed, in which the program was used to aid the design of inlet manifolds, the selection of camshafts, and the selection of compression ratios. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die ontwerp of modifikasie van binnebrandenjin-komponente het die Suid-Afrikaanse Motorbedryf gewoonlik staatgemaak op óf die ontwerpe van die moedermaatskappy óf is van quasi-empiriese ontwerp metodes gebruik gemaak. Hierdie metodes het die werkverrigting en uithouvermoë van plaaslike ontwerpe beperk. 'n Rekenaar model wat die werking van 'n vierslagenjin moduleer, is ontwikkel as 'n vinnige en koste effektiewe hulpmiddel vir ontwerpers om 'n redelike akkurate voorspelling van enjin werkverrigting te verkry, voordat dynamomotor toetswerk moontlik is. Die model bestaan uit 'n termodinamise model vir ontbranding en die gas uitruilproses, gekoppel aan 'n spruitstuk vloeimodel. Die model word saam met 'n simulasie van klepvloei en 'n nok dinamiese model gebruik, wat toelaat dat 'n goeie raming van die optimum nokprofiele en klephoeke gemaak kan word vir verskeie automobielenjin konfigurasies. Die akuraatheid van hierdie modelle is bevestig deur die vergelyking van simulasie resultate met 'n omvangreike stel enjin dynamomotor toetse. Die modelle is ook met groot sukses in verskeie plaaslike en internasionale ontwikkelingsprojekte, in samewerking met die plaaslike motorbedryf, gebruik. In besonder is twee enjinontwikkelingsprojekte suksesvol voltooi, waarin die simulasie program gebruik is om die ontwerp van die inlaat spruitstuk, die keuse van nokasse en die keuse van drukverhouding te vergemaklik.

Thesis (MScEng.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The last two decades have seen many changes within the automotive industry. Many advances have been made in the design, research and development of the internal combustion engine and technological progress made in the integrated-circuit and computer industry has resulted in the availability of reliable low-cost electronic components. These components have, over time, been incorporated into the very hearts of engines, thereby allowing for the accurate control of engine functions and processes to an extent that was previously impossible. Parallel to these developments is the growing concern for the environment and the realisation that resources are being consumed at ever-increasing rates. This has placed vehicle manufacturers under continual pressure to optimise their engines, not only for fuel efficiency, but also to reduce harmful emissions while continuing to deliver better performance and drivability characteristics. At the same time, engine testing equipment and facilities have had to keep abreast with these advances and this has required the development of more sophisticated testing facilities. One such facility is the dynamic engine test-bed. Among other features, this facility has the ability to subject test-bed mounted engines to loads similar to what would be experienced in a vehicle on the road. This approach allows for the optimisation of engine components and performance under more realistic conditions, yielding results far superior to those obtainable using more conventional steady-state testing and development procedures. This document discusses the development of such a dynamic engine test-bed at the Centre for Automotive Engineering at the University of Stellenbosch. The project was initiated by conducting a literature survey to establish the current state of technology in the field. The dynamic test-bed was developed around an existing direct-current electric motor and industrial speed controller configured in a regenerative manner. This setup enabled the unit to both absorb and deliver power, essential for the simulation of vehicle dynamics. Great care was taken to ensure that signals obtained from the test-bed were accurate and useful for further computer manipulation. Anti-aliasing filters were designed and manufactured to guarantee that signals could not be misinterpreted due to sampling effects. A computer-implemented vehicle model was developed to simulate, in real-time, vehicle response to torque developed by the engine on the test stand. The model included a manual transmission, clutch and a rigid drive-shaft. Driver input (accelerator, brake, clutch and gear selection) was by means of a set of pedals and hand-held gear selector switches. Various vehicle speed control strategies were investigated and recommendations made regarding their possible future implementation. System evaluation was accomplished by the simulated acceleration of a large truck. The simulations indicated that repeatable results could be obtained from the system. The system was also found to be adequately sensitive to reflect the effect of subtle changes made to engine parameters on vehicle acceleration. It was concluded that the dynamic engine test-bed did indeed offer the capability to conduct research and testing not previously available in South Africa. Finally, recommendations were made for the future improvement and expansion of the system's performance and capabilities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die laaste twee dekades het baie veranderinge in die outomobiel industrie megebring. Groot vooruitgang is gemaak in die ontwerp, navorsing en ontwikkeling van die binnebrand enjin, terwyl tegnologiese vooruitgang in die geïntegreerde-stroombaan en rekenaar industrië betroubare elektroniese komponente teen lae koste beskikbaar gemaak het. Hierdie komponente is mettertyd in enjins geïnkorporeer en het die akkurate beheer van enjin funksies en prosesse moontlik gemaak. Saam met hierdie ontwikkeling, is daar toenemende kommer oor die omgewing en 'n bewuswording dat hulpbronne verbruik word teen 'n groeinde tempo. Hierdie feite plaas voertuig vervaardigers onder volgehoude druk om enjins te optimeer vir brandstof doeltreffendheid, maar ook om skadelike emissies te bekamp terwyl beter werksverrigting en bestuurbaarheid vereis word. Enjin toetstoerusting en fasiliteite moes terselfdetyd met hierdie vooruitgang byhou en het die ontwikkeling van meer gesofistikeerde toetsfasiliteite vereis. Een sodanige fasiliteit is die dinamiese enjin toetsbank. Een van die kenmerke van hierdie fasiliteit is dat dit toetsbank-gemonteerde enjins kan onderwerp aan 'n las soortgelyk as wat ondervind sou word in 'n voertuig op die pad. Hierdie benadering stel ingenieurs in staat om enjin komponente en werksverrigting te optimeer onder meer realistiese kondisies en lewer resultate van 'n baie hoër gehalte as wat verkry kan word deur gebruik te maak van meer konvensionele gestadigde-toestand toets- en ontwikkelings-prosedures. Hierdie dokument bespreek die ontwikkeling van so 'n dinamiese enjin toetsbank by die Sentrum vir Automobielingenieurswese aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die projek is geïnisieer deur 'n literatuurstudie te doen om die huidige stand van tegnologie in die gebied vas te stel. Die dinamiese enjintoetsbank is ontwikkel rondom 'n bestaande gelykstroom-motor en industriële spoed beheerder wat in 'n regeneratiewe konfigurasie opgestel is. Hierdie opstelling het die absorpsie en lewering van drywing moontlik gemaak, 'n vereiste vir die simulasie van voertuig dinamika. Baie tyd is gespandeer om te verseker dat seine afkomstig van die toetsbank akkuraat en bruikbaar was vir verdere rekenaar manipulasie. Anti-aliaseringsfilters is ontwerp en vervaardig om te verseker dat seine nie verkeerd geïnterpreteer kon word as gevolg van diskritiserings effekte nie. 'n Rekenaar ge-implementeerde voertuigmodel is ontwikkel om 'n voertuig se reaksie op draairnoment ontwikkel deur die enjin op die toetsbank intyds te simuleer. Die model het 'n handrat transmissie, koppelaar en starre dryf-as ingesluit. Bestuurder intree (vernellingspedaal, rem, koppelaar en rat seleksie) is bewerkstellig deur middel van 'n stel pedale en 'n hand geoperateurde rat skakelaar. Verskeie voertuig spoed-beheerders is ondersoek en aanbevelings is gemaak aangaande die toekomstige implementering daarvan. Die sisteem is geëvalueer deur die versnellingsimulasie van 'n groot vragmotor. Die simulasies het daarop gedui dat herhaalbare resultate van die sisteem verkry kon word. Daar is ook bevind dat die sisteem sensitief genoeg was om subtiele veranderinge aan enjinparameters in die resultate te weerspieël. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die dinamiese enjin toetsbank inderdaad die vermoëns gebied het om ontwikkeling en toetswerk te doen wat nie voorheen in Suid-Afrika moontlik was nie. Voorstelle is laastens gemaak aangaande die toekomstige verbetering en uitbreiding van die sisteem se vermoëns.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Paula A. Watts. / M.S.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 B34 / Master of Science

Experiments were conducted to compare mixing and combustion of natural gas jets from round and elliptical nozzle holes in an optically accessible combustion bomb. A flame ionization detector was used to measure the concentration fields of the two jet types. Pressure data, combustion imaging, and hydrocarbon measurements of exhaust gas were used to compare the ignition delay, heat release, and combustion efficiency of the two nozzles. Concentration measurements indicated that the elliptical nozzle produced jets with smaller rich core regions and lower peak concentrations at all conditions. Firing tests indicated that the two nozzles produced equivalent ignition delays. Peak heat release rates were higher for the round nozzle, while the elliptical nozzle produced smoother transitions from premixed to diffusion burning. Combustion efficiency was slightly higher for the round nozzle. Results indicate that elliptical nozzles could potentially lower NOx and particulate emissions, but further experiments are required to test this hypothesis.

Experiments were conducted to compare mixing and combustion of natural gas jets from round and elliptical nozzle holes in an optically accessible combustion bomb. A flame ionization detector was used to measure the concentration fields of the two jet types. Pressure data, combustion imaging, and hydrocarbon measurements of exhaust gas were used to compare the ignition delay, heat release, and combustion efficiency of the two nozzles. Concentration measurements indicated that the elliptical nozzle produced jets with smaller rich core regions and lower peak concentrations at all conditions. Firing tests indicated that the two nozzles produced equivalent ignition delays. Peak heat release rates were higher for the round nozzle, while the elliptical nozzle produced smoother transitions from premixed to diffusion burning. Combustion efficiency was slightly higher for the round nozzle. Results indicate that elliptical nozzles could potentially lower NOx and particulate emissions, but further experiments are required to test this hypothesis.